Baseball sewing apparatus



May 29, 1956 o. R. HAAS BASEBALL SEWING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet k Filed July 12. 1952 jnventor:

0/10 F. Haas May 29, 1956 As 2,747,529

BASEBALL SEWING APPARATUS Filed July 12. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 29, 1956 o. R. HAAS BASEBALL sswmc APPARATUS s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12. 1952 inventor.- 0/(0 7f Haas 5 3 1 llllllllU United States Patent BASEBALL SEWING APPARATUS Otto R. Haas, Wenham, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 12, 1952, Serial No. 298,518

18 Claims. (Cl. 1122) The present invention relates to novel apparatus for use in sewing together the edges of a baseball cover and to a baseball having a cover sewn with the use of such apparatus. More particularly, the apparatus consists of means for conforming or lasting and holding the baseball cover in place to be sewn, and a novel machine for sewing together the abutting edges of the cover while so conformed and held.

A baseball cover usually is assembled from two pieces of soft tanned horse hide leather, each cut in bilobate, or more accurately in elliptic lemniscate, form and applied to the outer spherical surface of a ball foundation at right angles to each other with the narrower interconnecting section of one piece disposed in edge abutting relation to and between the lobes of the other. The abutting edges of the cover pieces are sewed together by threads passing through the pieces across the joint between the edges and alternately over and under the opposite abutting edges. The seam uniting the edges of the cover pieces heretofore has been sewn only in a commercially acceptable manner when inserted wholly by hand.

Various attempts to provide a machine for sewing baseball seams have not proposed formation of the regular under-and-over type seam commonly inserted by hand, but a chain stitch seam usually has been substituted. It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a cover conforming or lasting apparatus comprising a holder for a baseball or other spherically shaped article and an improved machine cooperating with the holder arranged to facilitate insertion of a baseball seam which corresponds exactly to the usual type of seam inserted by hand. As an alternative to the usual under-and-over type of seam, the machine also is capable of inserting a seam of novel form not readily distinguishable from the usual one but having many advantageous features not found in the usual one. A further object is to provide a holder and machine which will enable insertion of an acceptable baseball scam in a more uniform and reliable manner than has been possible heretofore.

The holder of the invention comprises a pair of hollow yielding spherical clamping members, each corresponding in outline generally with the bilobate shape of a baseball cover piece but having smaller peripheral dimensions than the cover piece to enable the cover piece to be secured by the holder to the baseball supporting surface while exposing the margin of the cover piece beyond the clamping member to convenient access for sewing, in which the edge of the clamping member has a series of index elements to facilitate insertion of stitches at the proper locations. The illustrated form of clamping member for retaining the cover pieces securely in position while sewing is constructed with needle guiding slots along its edge, spaced the same distance apart as successive stitches in the seam to be inserted. This form of'clamping member is of utility both with the machine of the invention or without the machine when a baseball cover is to be sewn by hand.

The machine in which the present invention is embodied is provided with stitch forming, feeding and other devices arranged to retain the ball and holder in operating position, and the feeding devices cooperate with the index elements on the holder for spacing the stitches and insuring reliable and uniform movement of the ball and holder between successive stitches. For retaining the ball and holder in operating position, according to this feature of the invention, the holder is composed of magnetic material and one or more magnets are mounted in the machine in proper relation to coact with the holder.

These and other features of the invention, including the use of an advantageous formation of stitches in a baseball, as hereinafter described and claimed will be apparent from the following detailed specification taken. in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an unsewn ball illustrating the manner of application to a ball of the holder embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the holder showing more clearly the manner of applying it to the ball;

Fig. 3 is a view of a completely sewn ball while the holder remains thereon;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of one-half of a bilobate cover piece cut in a form for covering a ball;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of an improved seam inserted by the machine, illustrating the manner of completing the seam at its ends;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of seam and holder;

Fig. 7 is a view in right side elevation, partly broken away, of the operating parts of the sewing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 7 taken along the line VIII-VIII;

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view taken along the line lXlX of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective detailed view on a further enlarged scale illustrating the manner in which a needle operates.

The usual form of baseball established by regulation and tradition has an elastic center 2 (Fig. 2), surrounded by compactly wound layers of worsted and cotton 4 to provide a spherical cover supporting foundation of limited resilience. The external dimensions of the ball foundation are maintained uniformly within narrow tolerances and a covering is applied in the shape of two bilobate pieces 6 and 8 fitted about the ball foundation with the interconnecting section of one piece disposed with edges abutting the lobes of the other piece. The edges of the pieces are drawn against each other to give them a spherical close fitting form and to avoid exposure of the foundation or the edges themselves, thus providing a comparatively smooth, pleasing appearance. To fasten the edges of the cover pieces together and to draw them neatly into abutment, stitches are inserted, the exposed threads of which forms a seam of herringbone configuration centered along the line of abutment. The seam ordinarily is composed of two threads, crossing each other along the abutting edges, each thread of which is doubled to provide greater strength without additional thickness. In the illustrated sewn ball of Fig. 3 and elsewhere in the drawings, two single threads 10 and 12 are shown, although the use of double threads is contemplated in order to provide an appearance exactly the same as a baseball with the usual hand sewn seam. Thus, each"exposed thread of the usual seam passes over' and under opposite abuttingw edges of the cover pieces. While the over-and-under alternate edge type of sewing is effective to draw the cover When a conventional basebali is struck with-abat on engages othernonyield-ing object s, it;issubjecttoimpact which the yielding center- 2 is intended to absorb through defamation. Inabsorbing the impact however, the centeri- 2 of the ball is flattened in line with. the point of impact' and the outer surface of the ballfoundation elsewhere bulges to exert tension onthe ball cover, particu- Iarly about a plane intersecting the cover at right angles to theiline of impact; In bulging, a localized stretching actionisapplied tot-he cover: sothat an unusual strain is produced in the stitches. Sincethe threads in'thestitches areLconnecteddirectly from: one cover piece to the other in theconventional ball, the stretchingstrain more than likely acts toenlarge the perforations along the edges of the pieces with. theresult that as soon as the ball foundation. resumes its original spherical shape, contracting around the. area ofprevious bulging, the stitches will be somewhat loosened, the material from which the cover is made not havingsufiicient elasticity-tocause the size of the sewing perforations to contract totheir original shapes. OIL-aCQQIlDt: of the rigidity of the seam, there is little or no opportunity for localized adjustment of tension between stitches. to compensate, for deformation in the ball under such impact or strain.

In the illustrated. ball, the seam composed of the threads 1%) and 12 is formed by passing each thread in a continuous. circuit through a perforation along the edge of one cover piece, across the edge and back through a 'succeeding perforation along the same edge. Thus, each thread-i does notpass over and under alternate abutL'ng edges of the cover pieces as in the conventional baseball scam in this respect each thread: inthe present ball formstatype of; individual over-edge'seam, assisting in reinforcing the edge of each piece. Connection between the edges is obtained by; interlocking the portions of the threadpassing across theabutting edges of the pieces, the Points of inteijocking engagement between threads being obscured by the abutting edges of the pieces. The arrangement of the scam in this manner tends to give greater flexibility andresiliency. to the cover when the sewn ball is subject to impact. Because of the interlocking relation. between the threads, there also is an opportunity for sliding movement in addition tothat obtained in the usual Qycr-audrunder alternate edge type of seam. The edges of the pieces are, for this. reason, capable of limited relative lengthwise movement along localized areas through the action of the threads 10. and 12'sliding along each other. at the points of interengagement. With the interlocking threads a better adjustment of tension in both threads is obtained than is possible with the over-andunderv alternate edge type of scam. Furthermore, in forming the present improved seam, there is less opportunity to overtension the threads, than with the convent-ional'seam, particularly in starting a seam. When either thread forming the present seam is tightened, it brings the opposite thread; interlocked with it against the edge of the cover piece across which it is carried, enlarging the area f pressure on the edge and providing greater resistance to tension in the thread than is met with the conventional under-and over alternate edge type of scam.

... t; eguaianis ts of tension to the cover pieces throughout their individual areas during sewing. The manner of'perforating a cover piece in this way is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 442,147, granted December 6, 1890, upon application of B. F, Shibe. Since the perforations are punched while the hide is in a flat condition, substantial deformation occurs in the pieces as they are stretched over the ball foundation. If there are local weak areas in a cover piece, then greater localized stretching will occur along these areas, causing the lineforrned by the. abutting edges to assume an irregular curvature. To facilitate conformity of the cover piece, it is commonpractice: to moisten it sufficiently to render it soft and pliable. However, moistening aggravates localized stretching. .To obviate this difiiculty, the perforations in the illustrated cover pieces are not preformed but are pierced only after the cover pieces have been stretched into close fitting relation to the spherical foundation of the ball. Piercing the perforations after the pieces are brought.- into close fitting relation to the ball foundation is accomplished with the use of 'theillustrated ballholder and machine in a par; ticularly desirable and advantageous manner.

Referring. toEigs. 1. to S inclusiveof. the drawings, one. end-of the blank cover piece 6- is illustrated in flattened; conditioninFig. 4, the. other-end of the cover piece-be. ing of the same shape with its lobe extending in the 09119:. site direction from' a narrower interconnecting section withv a well-know: lemniscatic outline. cover-piece 6. to, a ballfoundation, 2, 4 it is fiI t laid with itsnarrower interconnecting. section engaging the founda. tion and one of a pair of hollow. phe al c ampi 13cm; hens. L4; and. 1.6 CQmEQSed. of yielding sheet metal are pressedover the cover p e e, h el nd on, bein or ed: inside. the, hollow. of h mp m mbe (see: ig- 1);-

As a flat ove piec i pr edside a ampin h hi: a ha l. foundation th ed es o he am ng m m er li e alo the en h he cover P e to b n he c v rnie e. nto m in a w h. t founde nn throughout its area. At the same time the clamping meme tes s seld m. h co r Hi??? t a rhe s 1122; Wit out undus sunsh e a n i o e moothly s a he y i ns vi he ha l umi np 'scnisrmins n se P e-= 6 he ba ou at n? line of the seam: which is. to inserted aybe, c n; pensated for by-properly locating the perforations.

Af e o a in as th e: n ece. a h q crie is applied. o th bel ounda io he applig iq f he 19 s that f he c v r P e ex: cept that the interconnecting section of the cover piece, a c a .e. en ers si of h ir- 2 t uies su stant .113 a righ ang e qths no. of the'cover piece 6 on the ball foundaiion. puraesshsslamnin mem er s tih ed an the 5 P ece arenrsis ed nto th hollow of he. l m an mia? 1. nd. adius e unt t e d es of the are bras f u tan i Iabstmnt- Th? dampin nsm sr sqi r 1. the hold fe h a l. re. i h. Qt sahsrica q 'mp'l men ar s a sq f m. in out i e eneral wi h. h lobat sn gs o a we piece except that when they aredisposed in clamping ion.

relation to'a pair of cover pieces on a 5511 f ntasies;

their edges will lie in spaced parallel relation to cover the surface of the ball, while leaving the margins of both covler pieces exposed along their edges beyond theclarnpe ing. members.- to. a sufiicient width to receive a seam 6011-... meetingthe pieces.-

dse. o e h. c mpin m mbers. n he emh ir Qtfli ns. a ha eries we e sstnaaf asi ratiq s fi itg is ans s was In applying the For, this.

the clamping edge by distances corresponding to the distances between the stitches expected to be inserted in the enclosed cover piece. These perforations are spaced somewhat further from one another along the edge portions of the clamping members having convex curvature than along those portions having concave curvature. For convenient and accurate control of the spacing between the stitches when the machine of the invention is employed, additional perforations are interposed between those corresponding to the stitch length measurement so that actually there are twice the number of perforations as there are stitches to be inserted. When the stitches are to be inserted by hand, the index elements take the form of open ended slots 20, best shown in Fig. 6, with which the spacing is the same as the distance between stitches and there are no interposed slots or perforations.

To facilitate application of a clamping member to a ball foundation and to increase the uniformity of stress in a cover piece, especially about the edges of the piece each clamping member has along its edge a series of individual movable tongues 22 formed by a number of slits entering the edge of the clamping member. The tongues insure that after the cover piece has been shaped to a ball foundation it will be compressed along its margin with substantial uniformity against the supporting surface of the ball foundation.

To increase the clamping action on the edge of each clamping member the edge of each member is reversely bent so that the concavity along its inner surface is greater than is required to conform with the spherical surface of the ball foundation. Inside the concavity of the clamping member is disposed at yielding member comprising a resilient U -shaped brace 24 held in place by two sets of intergral ears 26 struck out of the material of the clamping member and bent inwardly about enlarged extremities of the brace.

For the purpose of assisting in the application of a clamping member to a cover piece while being stretched into close fitting relation to the ball foundation, each lobe of each clamping member has along its central area a depression 27 terminating at one end with a socket 28 (Fig. 3) spaced from the socket in the other lobe, through which sockets may be inserted reduced terminal tips of a pair of spreading tongs, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tongs are connected to form a pair of levers 30 and 32 each having an arcuate terminal for surrounding part of the clamping member. The levers are connected by a central pivot 34 and a compression spring 35 is disposed between them in proper relation to bring the terminals together when outer handle portions of the levers are released from the grasp of the operator. In applying the clamping member to a cover piece the terminal tips on the tongs are inserted within the sockets 28 and the handle portions squeezed together to spread the lobes of the clamping member. When the lobes of the clamping members are sufliciently spread, the ball foundation will slip within the clamping member with a minimum of friction so that simultaneous release of the handle portions on the tongs will exert a uniform stretching drag on the cover piece compressing it between the ball foundation and the clamping member (Fig. 2).

In sewing the exposed edges of the cover pieces 6 and 8 together, one exposed edge at a time is flanged upwardly away from the ball foundation at an angle sufficient for convenient entry of a sewing needle. Referring to Figs. 8 and curved hook needles 36 are illustrated and the exposed edge of the cover piece 6 is shown in upwardly flanged position, one needle having been projected through the flange.

For the purpose of rendering the cover pieces resistant to tearing action of the sewing thread, the pointed end of the curved-needle is hollowed out to form a U-shaped cutting edge 38 opening away from its center of curvature. Entry of the cutting edge 38 through the exposed margin of the cover piece produces a correspondingly shaped perforation with a tongue of the material still connected to the cover piece. The cutting edge 38 of the needle is so shaped that the base of the U-shaped cut will be directed toward the outer edge of the cover piece. When the thread is carried through the cover piece, it will bear against a smoothly rounded surface within the material of the cover piece. The tongue on the edge of the per foration will then overlap the thread within the perforation and protect it as well as the ball foundation from contact with dirt or other undesirable materials during use of the ball.

If the ball is to be sewed by hand, the clamping members will have their edges provided with needle guiding; slots 20, as shown in Fig. 6. As each cover piece is: operated upon, an eye-pointed needle, indicated at 39,. will be guided by one of the slots 20 to enter the flanged up marginal portion of the cover piece. The type of scam: inserted will be dependent upon the manner of manipulat ing the thread and the needle. With the use of the illustrated holder the usual form of under-and-over seam may. be inserted, passing alternately through a marginal portion: along an edge of one cover piece through a marginal portion along an edge of the other cover piece, the two threads: 10 and 12 crossing each other along the line of abutment: between the edges of the cover pieces. For this purpose: the needle is first projected through the marginal portion.

of one cover piece, the thread 10 being pulled through by the needle and retracted from the cover piece 6 until the:

stitch thus formed reaches a tightened position. There after, the marginal portion of the cover piece 8 is flangedt upwardly and a second needle inserted to draw the op-- posite thread 12 therethrough in the opposite direction;. The thread 12 drawn through the marginal portion of the: cover piece 6 crosses the thread 10 through the marginal? portion of the cover piece 8.

If the preferred type of seam is to be inserted with over edge threads, the thread 12 is drawn through each loopformed in the thread 10 and also exclusively through the: cover piece 6, not passing through the cover piece 8;. Each thread thus is passed exclusively through a margin ,of one cover piece only and into sliding interlocking engagement with the other thread. Thereafter, it is neces'-- sary to tighten both threads simultaneously. In tightening both threads any variation in the line of seam being inserted may be compensated for by tightening one thread somewhat more tightly than the other to compress the edge of one cover piece more than the edge of the other cover piece, the tightened thread sliding across the other interlocked with it. In this way the line of the seam and its appearance may be kept uniform in accurate con-- formity with the edges of the clamping members 14 and 16 which act as gages in this respect.

At the end of a seam the seam is finished in a manner corresponding generally to that employed in prior manual sewing operations. For this purpose the ends of thread are led between the abutting edges of the cover pieces and passed through the ball foundation until they emerge through perforations in the cover pieces at some distance along the seam from the seam end. After tightening the threads securely in place, they are severed close to the surface of the cover pieces. Where a seam of the preferred interlocking type is sewn, it is necessary to interlock the threads at both the beginning and final end of the seam. Thus, there will be four end sections of threads brought together into interlocking relation at a single point. The arrangement of the seam, however, is such that all the interlocking sections of the thread are concealed by the abutting edges of the cover pieces; and, if the several thread ends are carried through the ball foundation along radiating paths, all at different angles to each other, no pronounced enlargement at the beginning and final ends of the seam will be noticeable. After sewing a scam in the machine it is necessary in finishing the seam end to employ a conventional hand needle 40 (Fig. 3).

If a baseball seam is to be inserted by the use of'the illustrated machine, the clampingmembersare provided with. indexnperforations. 18ltin. place. of:the slotsJi). Theclampediball is .pres ented.to.the machine with.the perfora tionsls, broughtintp cooperation withrfeeding devices consistingofiapairr-of. index. element engagingparts or wheels 41; andi42. Thewheelshaveteeth whichLenter-the index perforationsianddhe.Wheelsrare connectediby a shaft 44, i one; at :either: side .of. the. point of sewing operations,- 1 and v the shaft. is rotatably .rnounted in a bracket 46' secured I by means of a screw 48 and dowels 50 (Fig. 9 to the overhangingarin ofa- U s hapedmachine frame 52 The teeth. on the-wheels 41 and '42 are so spaeedthatthey correspondwith the average spacing of the -perforations 18L leavingsuificient clearance between the edges of-theperforations and the teeth to permit entry of the teeth evemthough the individual spacings of the perforations areg reater along the I intercennec ting sections of the clampingmembers than along the edges of the lobes on the clampingmembers. Bymounting the indexwheels on thesame shaft, they arec'au'sedte turn simultaneously and to maintain the 'line of the ahutting edges on the cover pieces, always parallel to or tangent to the circle of rotation of the wheels at their pointsiof contaet with the clamping members, thusdirecting the, insertion of stit ehes by the needles 316 with a uniform angle between a tangentto the edges of the clampingmembers and the needlels at the point of sewing operatign.

To' guide ,the' ball foundation and to preyent entry of the teeth onthe indeyrwheels too de e ply intofthe perfora;

tions, on the clamping'members, the bracket 46 h'as pro ject ingifrom it a foot (see Figs. 7 and 9.) provided. with a coneave curvature. fitting the outersurfaee ofthe ball' foundation. The foot 54 hasareducedshank, to

permit itto enter between the edges of, the cove i pieces and to raise the marginal portions 'jslightly ,frqm thei sun ae. f. he, b 1 fo dat i vided apairof curved needles 36 mounted f V oppgsite, directions toward and from Lthe. polnt of sewing ns n; springs r 6- d 2 Mevenienlt} f eash, se ent us e e 1? t nt e mat na s t e L t-the.., P netrat n o eme of hr e dle, e bs.,-- ts s-g segments. 6, a r y-p i ti s an edt qz nsa s;

. withilugs flfl on the;frame ,52 7

9 s st raising a h mar ina po t on v s r ysn; p ee n o; a PQ i Q Where; a eed e;. melpeaetrtv a i emat inal portio t.:- h; rsP Q$-; re; a d b pa f. lot d, fi ers 72 a1 4=7 sfl1a$ 9tPL h eh; remadeot u fi en Width tqreqe ethae ea f wqye P The fn rs n ase sa s vhi f he, essi ni ei w e producdby hei f a h d-at 9.36. an l ll fit Y-v resn al pr s t t he a e T a nd r en th-w ten i nthelcdr hpleted stitches, To m tionsfor theireasyentry:into hesl t s,of,th

12 .7 itheva a a e sh tt-k st i e; we? h a tiqn at the other side vof'the ,fingers by the fooLS mounted'for rotary niouer'nent ona stud scnew 7 b a coyer margin raisingfingers 72 and 74. a1 'e.eo eutl 'i llllilif a magnetsi9 4 and 96 of similar shape (see 7).

clampi g'j memhe rs 'engagesithelfootidll; Thegc l ampmg 1 e n. eifiwla lmbpdime t a ee, 1

clamping zmembers.arranged tol .complementaeaclgother and.74 is suchIthat when bothmeedles '-are -retracted fromthe. ball; botlrcover raisingfingers-will he moved together topositionswhere-the edges of the cover pieces w-i1l-= be forced:into a position close tothesurface of the ball foundation. Dueto. the position of-the foot 54 above-the;-

fingers 7-2 and 74 the edges of the'piecesw-ill not become entirelydisengagedtherefrom. Assoon as one-;of *the; needlesisoscillated toward theball, the conneetions-between-the needle and-fingers, includingteethon.each;

v needle segment and; on the corresponding cover raising;

finger, will deflectthe rnarginof a cover piece with: a flange formation into the path of the'needlesothatthe needle passes through a margin of :the cover -piece-at-a uniform distance from-its edgef Thus in Fig. 8 the needle secured in the segment 58 is shown perforating the margin of the cover piece 6 while the margin raising'finger' 72 holds the edge of cover piece 8' out of'the-path ofthe needle. The thread is then appliedto the hook of-the needle and the threaded needle is retracted :from the cover piece, returning the margin thereof-toyaposition;

out of the path ofthe needle secured =to the segment'56 next to be operated It-has b een found' convenient-to press the cover margins initially a short distance into-the slots of the fingers 72 after inserting the foot 54'between the edges of the co ver pieces. 7

For feeding the ball a di stanee equ al to the length of a stitch, one stitch length ata time, and forloeking the indeX wheels from rotation while the stitch forming' -devicesare being actuated, the machine is provided iwlth:

- devices. for rotating jthe index wheels 41- and'42 in' a ste bystepmanneni To this ,end the index wheels' onthe j shaft '44,,have connected to them closeto the index wheel: 41,11 l d ene W e l filfl ga g i 39 14 f 1 cooperating drive 851. I Thedriver 8,4 is seeuredto a shaft' 86, rotatable in the bracket 46 and proyided with a wheel 88, When the thumb wheel 88'; is rotated an hape Ip n. (F VPIQJ W Q rom. thshl jv hs; driver; 8,4 enters a slot in Geneva wheel 82 causi it to' r t te hro h an an e r spon in jl het s a p t betweenlh'e teeth on the Geneva wheel. Further rotation o f the thumb wheel eauses the huhjo f the d iver ta te i nsa i y. n nev nd oskl haf index..wheels from further rotation,

To.retain the ball being operated uponyieldingly in;

. sewing positioninthe maehinewith,theperforati nsf18;

in theelarnping, members 14- and 16 in; ,co'ntaet @the v, teeth: onthe ball feedingindex wheelsfil 'and 4z, the; frame support SZisjconstructed with a pair ofprpjeetipns 91 and 92 t0 which. are iserewedga pair oflhqrses guiding. the .7 sewing and the, feeding movement the n 1ag. nets9'4 land 96 are formed g withrconcaye poles arranged I engage the outer surface of theclamping menibers .14; 16 v while, a ball contained. in the holdei'lconipr e the,

members'.themselyesare constructed of sheet steel I e 1 biqttQ m n flqaefi it emas B349 nd 6 d-th e v ntnr b t ori ae slq sd-;' ballifonthe purposes intended.

Certain e t ntisai e ig, 1.0

49s', s2- Coye gs The re n o e of h .r n entioa ay asg gqndescribed, what .is cl and ball feeding devices,.. in;,com holdencomprising; a main; of -.'hQ11QW i ph I- i a biloha e.

when disposed on.- a sphericaL-i support-ing-esurfaeeawith 1 spaced edges located imparallel relatiqnand provicledwi index elementscooperatingwiththesfeedingdevicesz Y 2=A- baseballgsewing niachine having stiteh ifoi-ming ""andbzillfe'eding device's, incombinatidn with a ball,

holder comprising a pair of hollow spherical bilobate clamping members arranged to complement each other when disposed on a spherical supporting surface with spaced edges located in parallel relation and provided with index elements cooperating with the feeding device s, said feeding devices consisting of a pair of toothed index element engaging parts and connections between the toothed parts for actuating them simultaneously to direct insertion of stitches by the stitch forming devices with a uniform angle between a tangent to the edges of the clamping members and the stitch forming devices at the point of sewing operation. I

3. Abaseball sewing machine having stitch forming and ball feeding devices, in combination with a ball holder comprising a pair of hollow spherical bilobate clamping members arranged to complement each other when disposed on a spherical supporting surface with spaced edges located in parallel relation and provided with index elements cooperating with the feeding devices, said feeding devices consisting of a pair of index element engaging toothed wheels, one at either side of the point of operation of sewing operations, and a rotating shaft to which the wheels are connected to direct insertion of stitches by the stitch forming devices with a uniform angl between a tangent to the edges of the clamping members and the stitch forming devices at the point of sewing operation.

4. A baseball sewing machine having stitch forming and ball feeding devices, in combination with a ball holder comprising a pair of hollow spherical bilobate clamping members arranged to complement each other when disposed on a spherical supporting surface with spaced edges located in parallel relation and provided with in dex elements cooperating with the feeding devices, said feeding devices consisting of a pair of index element engaging toothed wheels, one at either side of the point of operation of sewing operations, a rotating shaft to which the wheels are connected to direct insertion of stitches by the stitch forming devices with a uniform angle between a tangent to the eges of the clamping members and the stitch forming devices at the point of sewing operation, and means for locking the index wheels from rotation while the stitch forming devices are being actuated.

5. A baseball sewing machine having stitch forming and ball feeding devices, in combination with a ball holder comprising a pair of hollow spherical bilobate clamping members arranged to complement each other when disposed on a spherical supporting surface with spaced edges located in parallel relation and provided with index elements cooperating with the feeding devices, said feeding devices consisting of a pair of index element engaging toothed wheels, one at either side of the point of operation of sewing operations, a rotating shaft to which the wheels are connected to direct insertion of stitches by the stitch forming devices with a uniform angle between a tangent to the edges of the clamping members and the stitch forming devices at the point of sewing operation, a Geneva wheel connected to the index wheels and a cooperating driver for locking the Geneva wheel during operation of the stitch forming devices.

6. A baseball sewing machine having stitch forming and ball feeding devices, in combination with a ball holder comprising a pair of hollow spherical bilobate clamping members arranged to complement each other when disposed on a spherical supporting surface with spaced edges located in parallel relation and provided with index elements cooperating with the feeding devices, and yielding means acting on the clamping members for retaining the index elements in contact with the feeding devices.

7. A baseball sewing machine having stitch forming and ball feeding devices, in combination with a ball holder comprising a pair of bilobate complementary clamping members of magnetic material arranged when disposed on a spherical supporting surface with spaced it) edges located in parallel relation and a magnet disposed with its poles in close proximity to the clamping members for retaining the index elements in contact with the feeding device. I I v 8. A baseball sewing machine having a frame and stitch forming and ball feeding devices mounted on the frame, in combination with a ball holder engaging with the feeding devices and means on the frame for retaining the ball holder in predetermined relation to the stitch forming and ball feeding devices, said stitch forming de vices including a curved needle mounted for oscillation on the frametoward and from the ball holder.

9. baseball sewing'machine having a frame and stitch forming and ball feeding devices mounted on the frame, in combination with a ball holder cooperating with the feeding devices and means on the frame for retaining the ball holder in predetermined relation to the stitch forming and ball feeding devices, said stitch forming devices including a pair of curved needles, and segments in which the needles are secured mounted for oscillation about separate axes on the frames toward and from the clamping members cooperating with the feeding devices.

10. A baseball sewing machine having a frame, a curved hooked needle mounted for oscillation on the frame and ball feeding devices, in combinationwith a ball holder engaged with the feeding devices and a cover raising finger on the frame mounted for movement toward and from a ball in the holder to deflect the margin of a cover with a flange formation into the path of movementof the needle.

11. A baseball sewing machine having a frame, a curved hooked needle mounted for oscillation on the frame and ball feeding devices, in combination with a ball holder engaged with the feeding devices and a cover raising finger on the frame mounted for movement toward and from a ball in the holder to deflect the margin of a cover with a flange formation into the path of movement of the needle, said needle being formed at its end with a U-shaped edge opening away from its center of curvature for cutting a tongue in the material of the cover.

12. A baseball holder for securing a bilobate coverpiece on a spherical supporting surface, comprising a hollow yielding spherical clamping member conforming in outline generally with the shape of the coverpiece to enable the coverpiece to be secured to the supporting surface while exposing the margin of the coverpiece beyond the clamping member and index elements spaced from one another along the edge of the clamping member by distances corresponding to the distances between the stitches to be inserted.

13. A baseball holder for securing a bilobate coverpiece on a spherical supporting surface, comprising a hollow yielding spherical clamping member conforming in outhne generally with the shape of the coverpiece to enable the coverpiece to be secured to the supporting surface while exposing the margin of the coverpiece beyond the clamping member and index elements comprising needle guiding slots spaced from one another along the edge of said member by distances corresponding to the distances between the stitches to be inserted along the edge of the coverpiece.

14. A baseball holder for securing a bilobate coverpiece on a spherical supporting surface, comprising a sheet metal spherical clamping member conforming in outline generally with the shape of the coverpiece to enable the coverpiece to be secured to the supporting surface while exposing the margin of the coverpiece beyond the clamping member, index elements spaced from one another along the edge of the clamping member by distances corresponding to the distances between the stitches to be inserted, and a resilient brace secured to the clamping member to draw said member into close fitting conformity with the supporting surface.

15: A baseball holder for securing a bilobate cover.-

pieee' on a spherical supporting surface, comprising; a hollow yielding spherical clamping member conforming in outline generally withthe shape of the. coverpiece to enable the coverpiece te be secured; to the supporting surface while exposing thegmargin 'of' the .Coverpiece beyondth'e clamping member, and-slits forming a series of individually movable tongues along the edges; of'said formly against;the supporting surface.

'16. A-basebalbhpld'er forsecuring; a bilobate coverpiece on a spherica1-suPPQrting surface, comprising a sheet metal-spherical clamping member conforming in outline generally with theshape of -the coverpiece to member to compressthe margin of the coverpiece'unienable the coyerpiece to be secured; to the supporting surface While, exposing the margin of the coverpiece' beyond the clamping member, slits ,forming a, series vof individuallymovabletongues along the edges of'said' member-tmcompress'the margin-of the coverpiece uniformly'against the supporting surface, andia resilient brace securedto the clamping member, to draw said member into close fitting conformity With the supporting surface.

17': A' baseballholderfor securing a bilobate ,coverpiece on a spherical-supporting surface, comprising-a hollow yielding spherical clamp ing member conforming in'outl-ine generally with' the-shap e of the coverpiece to enable-the coverpiece to bese cured tojhe supporting surface-while exposing themargin'of the coverpiece beyond; the clamping member, saidmember,being providedwith" 1T2 spaced sockets, and means for spreading, the clamping member to" admitithe supporting surface, comprising a,

handi operated pair of levers pivoted. uponeach other,

each" lever having; an arcuate terminalsurrounding part offiheclarnping; member and liavinga tip'formedto fit a socket in 1 the clamping member.

18.. A b'aseball'hpl der for securinga-b'ilobate cover: a piece on a-- sphercial supporting, surface, comprising a' hollow yielding spherical'clamping member conforming. in outline generally with'the shape o f'the coverpiece to.

enable the coverpiec e to be secured Ito the supporting sur,- face. While exposing the. margin of'thefcoverpiece beyond' the clamping member, and index. elements along the edges, of the clamping 'member spaced "from. one another by a, distance corresponding to that between stitches to be inserteclandfspacedfurther from one another along the edge portionsoftheclamping member having convex curvature than along those. portions having" concave? curvature.

I R fe rencesgcited in-thea-file of\thjspatent UNITED"STATES' PATENTS 

